June 14th....Sunday Rolling RRs & CVS quickie

I needed to roll some RRs by June 15th and buy some Sunday papers so I headed out early to WAGS on Sunday morning.
As I came through the door at WAGS, one of the cashiers who knows me told me right off that they had NO St. Ives Body Wash in the store. She said they started the day with about 6 bottles and they had sold them all first thing in the morning. As this is a 24 Hr. store, those 6 bottles probably didn't see the sun rise before they were snapped up! They were suppose to get more in, early in the week, but I just haven't had time to get back to WAGS this week to check.

Transaction #1
6x Ragu Sauce @ $2.00=$12.00
2x Skippy PButter @ $2.00=$4.00
1x Envelopes @ $1.29
1x Mechanical Pencil @ $1.09 clearanced
1x Inkjet Label Sheets @ $1.29 clearanced
2x Mechanical Pencil Lead Refills @ $1.29=$2.58
SUBTOTAL $22.25
TAX $.34

Coupons Used....
2x Ragu Sauce @ $1.25/3=$2.50
1x Skippy PButter @ $1.00/2=$1.00
1x Envelopes IVF Q= $.62
RRs Used....
$3, 6x $2=$15
SUBTOTAL $19.12

$22.59-$19.12=$3.47OOP put on Gift Card
Received $8 RR(ConAgra)

**Again, I bought 13 items but the register only let me use 11 coupons/rrs.

Transaction #2
4x Sunday Newspaper @$1.25=$5.00
Used $2 & $3 RRs
$0.00 OOP


Transaction #3

1x Cottonelle TP @ $3.79=$3.79
3x John Frieda Root Awakening 'Poo @ $5.00=$15.00
2x Maxwell House Coffee @ $2.50=$5.00
1x M&Ms @ $.69=$.69
SUBTOTAL $24.48
TAX $.90

Coupons Used....
1x Cottonelle IP $1.00/1=$1.00
3x John F. RA $3.00/1=$9.00
1x Maxwell House $2.00/1=$2.00
RRs Used $10.00
SUBTOTAL $22.00

$25.38-$22.00=$3.38OOP put on Gift Card
Received $5 RR(John F)

Yet again, 7 items purchased but only 6 Qs/RRs were accepted. I had to buy those blasted M&Ms before the register would take my $10RR!


Transaction #4

3x John Frieda Root Awakening 'Poo @ $5.00=$15.00
2x Maxwell House Coffee @ $2.50=$5.00
4x Ramen Noodles @ 4/$1=$1.00
SUBTOTAL $21.00
TAX $.90

Coupons Used....
3x John F. RA $3.00/1=$9.00
1x Maxwell House $2.00/1=$2.00
RRs Used $3,$3,$2,$1=$9
SUBTOTAL $20.00

$21.90-$20.00=$1.90OOP put on Gift Card
Received $5 RR(John F)

Yet again, 9 items purchased but only 8 Qs/RRs were accepted.
Tell me I'm hallucinating about the registers being programmed to do this!lol

Transaction #5

3x Sunday Newspapers @ $1.25=$3.75
Used a $3RR
Total....$.75OOP $.32 put on Gift Card, $.53 paid in cash

There goes the last of my Gift Card money....sniff, sniff....

OOP $9.50 All but $.53 put on Gift Card
Used $42 in RRs
Value of Items $115.22
Received $18 in RRs ($8 ConAgra, 2x $5 JFrieda)
Savings of 91.75%

Then, since I was in the neighborhood, a quick run into CVS to do the Aveeno & Razor deals & get some cheap cereal to make Rice Crispy Treats....

Transaction #1
1x Schick Quattro Razor @ $7.99
2x Purex @ $6.99=$13.98
1x Aveeno Shampoo=$6.50
1x Aveeno Lotion=$7.00
1x Aveeno Lotion=$4.24
3x Kellogg's Cereals @$1.88=$5.64
SUBTOTAL $45.35

Coupons Used....
1x Schick @ $4/1=$4.00
2x Purex @ $2/1=$4.00
1x Aveeno @ $2/1=$2.00
1x Aveeno @ $5/2=$5.00
3x Kellogg's Cereals @$1/1=$3.00
Subtotal $18.00

ECBs Used.....
$4, $5, $7.98, $10=$26.98

$45.35-$18-$26.98=$.37

I was suppose to receive $5 for the Razor, $4 for the Purex(2x $2) & $10 for the Aveeno because I thought I had spent $20 on Aveeno. I didn't realize that one of the lotions had rung up on clearance for $4.24 instead of the shelf tag price of $7 until I got my receipt.
So I went and bought another of the clearanced Aveeno Lotion that wasn't marked and spent another $4.24-$2/1 coupon & $1ECB. With the .08¢ tax, I spent another $1.33 OOP and the cashier forced my $10 ECB.

Total Spent OOP...$1.70
Value of Items bought...$74.47
Savings of......97%
ECBS Used...$27.98
ECBs Received...$19

Sluggy

KMart Saturday 6/13 Double Qs-The End & Totals

After SIL left town on Saturday and started her drive home to IL, daughter & I headed out south of Teeny Tiny Town to hit another nearby KMart. SIL had visited this one a few days back when I was off dealing with the Orthodontic fun. Not much good or cheap but here is what I managed to get.....

6x Zip Loc Bags @ $2.00 ea.=$12.00
4x Pedigree Dog Treats @ $2.99 ea.=$11.96
2x Keebler Cookies @ $3.00 ea.=$6.00
4x Bic Razors @ $5.29 ea.=$21.16
1x A-1 Steak Sauce @ $3.79
1x Cascade Dish Detergent @ $4.29
SUBTOTAL $59.20
TAX $1.83

Coupons Used....
3x Zip Loc Bags @ $1.00/2 doubled=$6.00
4x Pedigree Dog Treats @ $1.00 doubled=$8.00
1x Keebler Cookies @ $1.00/2 doubled=$2.00
4x Bic Razors @ $2.00/1 doubled=$16.00
1x A-1 Steak Sauce @ $2.00 doubled=$3.79
1x Cascade Dish Detergent @ $1.00/1 doubled=$2.00
$5/$50 KMart Q=$5.00
$5 KMart Gift Card=$5.00(from the cereal deal I did in April)
SUBTOTAL $47.79

$61.03-$47.79=$13.24OOP

I didn't use my $14 CAT here.

After dinner I went back down the mountain to do two more rounds at my local KMart & to use that $14 CAT.
First this haul....

3x Axe Shower Gel (#2 son will LOVE me for this!lol) $4.29 ea.=$12.87
3x Bic Razors @ $5.99=$17.97
1x Bic Sensitive Razors $3.49
3x KY Warming Gel @ $4.79=$14.37
4x Pedigree Dog Treats @ $3.79=$15.16
3x Snausages Dog Treats @ $2.99=$8.97
5x Cat Treats @ $1.89=$9.45
7x Ragu Sauce @ $1.99=$13.93
1x Hormel Micro Dinner @ $2.99
2x Whipped Cream @ $2.99=$5.98
5x Slim Fast Snack Bars @ $3.59=$17.95
4x Slim Fast Drinks @ $5.99=$23.96
SUBTOTAL $147.09
TAX $2.53

Coupons Used....
3x Axe Shower Gel $1.50/1 doubled=$9.00
3x Bic Razors @ $2.00/1 doubled=$12.00
1x Bic Razors @ $2.00/1 doubled=$3.49
3x KY Warming Gel @ $2.00/1 doubled=$12.00
4x Pedigree Dog Treats @ $1.00/1 doubled=$8.00
3x Snausages Dog Treats @ $1.00/1 doubled=$6.00
5x Cat Treats @ $1.00/1 doubled=$9.45
2x Ragu Sauce @ $1.00/2 doubled=$4.00
1x Ragu Sauce @ $1.25/3 doubled=$2.50
1x Hormel Micro Dinner @ $1.00/1 doubled=$2.00
2x Whipped Cream @ $1.00 doubled=$4.00
5x Slim Fast Snack Bars @ $1.00/1 doubled=$10.00
4x Slim Fast Drinks @ $1.40 doubled=$11.20
1x $14 CAT Q=$14.00
SUBTOTAL $107.64

$149.62-$107.64=$41.98OOP
And I got another $14 CAT Q for spending $50 or more on Unilever products.


And finally, this haul....


2x Axe Shampoo $4.99 ea.=$9.98
2x Recycled Foil @ $2.99=$5.98
2x Hot Shot Spray @ $3.19=$6.38
1x Hot Shot Spray @ $3.99=$3.99**Not Pictured**
2x Snausages Dog Treats @ $2.99=$5.98
5x Cat Treats @ $1.89=$9.45
1x Better than Ears Dog Treats=$2.67
3x Mac/Cheese Dinner @ $2.29=$6.87
6x Hunt's Pudding @ $1.00=$6.00
8x Hershey's Syrup @ $1.99=$15.92
5x Mustard @ $1.49=$7.45
1x A-1 Sauce @ $3.79=$3.79
3x Sunkist 12 packs @ $3.67=$11.00
SUBTOTAL $95.46
TAX $1.60

Coupons Used....
2x Axe Shampoo $2.00/1 doubled=$8.00
2x Recycled Foil @ $1.00/1 doubled=$4.00
2x Hot Shot Spray @ $1.50/1 doubled=$6.00
1x Hot Shot Spray @ $1.50/1 doubled=$3.00
2x Snausages Dog Treats @ $1.00/1 doubled=$4.00
5x Cat Treats @ $1.00/1 doubled=$9.45
1x Better than Ears Dog Treats $1.00/1 doubled=$2.00
1x Mac/Cheese Dinner @ $1.00/1 doubled=$2.00
1x Mac/Cheese Dinner @ $1.50/2 doubled=$3.00
2x Hunt's Pudding @ $1.00/3 doubled=$4.00
4x Hershey's Syrup @ $1.00/2 doubled=$8.00
2x Mustard @ $1.00/2 doubled=$4.00
1x Mustard @ $.50/1 doubled=$1.00
1x A-1 Sauce @ $2.00 doubled=$3.79
3x Sunkist 12 packs @ $1.00 doubled=$6.00
1x $14 CAT Q=$14.00
SUBTOTAL $82.24

$97.06-$82.24=$14.82OOP

TOTAL RESULTS for KMART DOUBLE COUPONS SHOPPING WEEK.....
Total Spent Out of Pocket.......$100.79
Total Value of Items Bought....$479.27
Savings of...........................79%

Not bad but I am plum worn out!!
I think I am finished stockpiling for awhile, especially at KMart!!
I noticed that KMart has raised their prices on some of the things since the last double coupons sales event in May. Things that would have been free last time around weren't this time so I passed on them.

I tell ya, with this Cleaning out the Fridge/Freezer Challenge this month, I have been depleting the Freezer stockpile but I sure stockpiled enough shelf-stable stuff this week at KMart to counter all that space in the freezer I've been gaining!lol

This closes out last week's fun. Gee, I'm almost caught up to this week. 8-))
Now comes the hard part....finding a place to put all this!!!
I think it's time for a major pantry/stockpile re-org.

Did you get any good deals at KMart last week during the Double Coupon Event?!
Tell us about them, won't you?

Sluggy

June 11th Trouble & June 12th....K-Mart Double Coupons Again

I forgot to mention that the last trip to K-Mart, on June 11th, the $14 Cat for the $50 or more Unilever products purchase didn't print at the register. I tried to explain to the cashier what I was suppose to get from the CAT machine but she was, shall we say, "a tad slow" and just not comprehending. So I hopped over to the CS counter to see what was up with the CATs.
The CS person wandered over to the registers and conferred with someone and came back and called someone else.....without saying a word to me about WHAT was going on. So I opened my BIG MOUTH and started asking questions.....lol
Turns out the CAT machine had NO PAPER in it. Well, duh, maybe that's why it didn't print??lol
Come to find out, NONE OF THE CAT MACHINES IN THE WHOLE STORE HAD ANY PAPER IN THEM & HADN'T HAD PAPER IN THEM ALL DAY!
The management knew this and didn't post signs or tell anyone either! Imagine all those Catalina Coupons that were suppose to print that didn't.....all those people getting CHEATED OUT OF THEIR COUPONS if they didn't know any better, all day long!!
Man!.....this K-Mart store sure failed in the putting the customer first dept. in MY EYES!
Maybe that's why they have had to file for reorganizational Chapter "Whatever Number it is" Bankruptcy and let SEARS by them out in the last few years.
This store will be avoided if at all possible in the future and the one closest to Teeny Tiny Town will be frequented instead.
After the Manager finally called the CS gal on the phone there was much discussion about how to handle the $14 in store money I was owed. About 20 seconds into her phont conversation I offered that they should just give it to me on a Store Gift Card. She gabbed with the Manager for another 2 minutes(or more)and then I guess what I had said finally registered with her and she asked her Manager if they could put the $14 on a Store GC.
Wow! What a great idea.....why didn't I think of that!!LOLOL
So I ended up with a $14 KMart GC.


So SIL & I headed back down the mountain on Friday for a quick stop into K-Mart again.
Here's what I got....


More Slim-Fast stuff....
4x Slim Fast Drinks @ $5.99=$23.96 **Not Pictured**
4x Slim Fast Bars @ $3.59=$14.36 **Not Pictured**
12x Knorr's Noodle Sides @ $1.00=$12.00
1x Bic Razors @ $5.29=$5.29
SUBTOTAL....$55.61
TAX....$.17

Coupons Used....
4x Slim Fast Drinks @ $1.40 doubled=$11.20
4x Slim Fast Bars @ $1.00 doubled=$8.00
4x Knorr's Noodle Sides @ $1.00/3 doubled=$8.00
1x Bic Razors @ $2.00 doubled=$4.00
$5/$50 KMart Q
$14 CAT
**Usually you can't use one of the KMart $x/$xx Qs AND a CAT good OYNO Qs on the same order BUT the $14 CAT was on a 'Gift Card' instead, so I got to use both....woot!
SUBTOTAL.....$50.20

$55.78-$50.20=$5.58OOP
AND I got another $14 CAT to spend on the next order.

Yay me! ;-))

The Last Day of KMart adventures to follow.....

Sluggy

Breaking my WalMart Fast & Jimmy Who??

Remember back in early May when Kraft Foods released all those Kraft product coupons through Coupons.com and on various Grocery stores' websites?
Well the bulk of all those Qs I printed were expiring on June 10th. I didn't notice until I was rooting around in an old envelope and dug out the stack of $1.50/1 Kraft Salad Dressing Qs I still had that were expiring June 10th. Tucked behind that stack were all these IP Kraft Qs. Boy, did that month fly by!lolol

So after my day of Braces, CVS & Wags, Hubby took us out to Bob Evans for dinner and then SIL said she'd like to accompany me to WalMart to use some of these expiring Qs.

I have to tell ya'll that I haven't set foot in a Walmart since Before Easter. It's not someplace I go for deals, especially on Weekends. The one here is just K-razy on weekends. Too many people who could seriously use some additional bathing, in too close proximity to me. 8-P
Just walking into that place makes me sad.....I can't explain it but it does.

So we hiked down the mountain to STUFF-MART to see what deals we could find.

Here's the haul....
8x Kraft Salad Dressings @ $1.58=$12.64
4x Sierra Mist 2ltrs. @ $1.48(EEK!)=$5.92
2x Kraft Mayo @ $2.74=$5.48
5x Ritz Bits @ $2.00=$10.00
1x Ritz Crackers @ $2.50=$2.50
4x Alpo Dog Food @ $.67=$2.68
4x A-1 Steak Sauce @ $2.98=$11.92
3x Graham Crackers @ $2.50=$7.50
1x Nabisco Cookie Packs @ $3.98=$3.98
2x Kraft Deluxe Dinners @ $1.98=$3.96
5x Pace Salsas @ $2.48=$12.40
3x Pace Sauces @ $2.84=$8.52
8x Kraft Easy Mac Cups @ $.88=$7.04
2x Baked Lay's Potato Chips @ $3.28=$6.56
1x Kashi Waffles @ $2.54=$2.54
Subtotal.....$103.64
Tax.......$.52

Coupons Used....
8x Kraft Salad Dressings @ $1.50/1=$12.00
2x Sierra Mist 2ltrs. @ BOGO=$2.96
2x Kraft Mayo @ $1/1=$2.00
5x Ritz Bits @ $1/1=$5.00
1x Ritz Crackers @ $1/1=$1.00
2x Alpo Dog Food @ BOGO=$1.34
4x A-1 Steak Sauce @ $1/1=$4.00
3x Graham Crackers @ $1/1=$3.00
1x Nabisco Cookie Packs @ $1.00/1=$1.00
2x Kraft Deluxe Dinners @ $1/1=$2.00
3x Pace Salsas/Sauces @ $4/1=$12.00
4x Kraft Easy Mac Cups @ $1/2=$4.00
2x Baked Lay's Potato Chips @ $1/1=$2.00
1x Kashi Waffles @ $1.50/1=$1.50
Subtotal.............$54.80

$104.16-$54.80=$49.36OOP

Value of Items....$103.64
Savings of.....53%

I only bought stuff I knew the family would eat. The deals weren't wonderful, just ok.

Looking at it all now I can see that about half of what I got can be labeled 'junk'. Ok, the graham crackers aren't too bad but soda, ritz crackers, cookies, chips and all that Mac & Cheese with marginal nutritional value....hello!lol
The lesson here.....sometimes using up coupons just to use them up is NOT worth it.
The deals weren't amazing and I bought lots of junk. Yah, the junk will get eaten(probably before the 'good' food will!lol). At least I bought baked chips, right? That's a little better....

I REALLY wanted to use the Qs I had for frozen food items...like the Kashi Waffles and such but turns out our Walmart is in the midst of remodeling. All but 1/2 of 1 aisle of Frozen Food Cases were emptied out and shut off, so no frozen food for me!
My first thought when I saw the remodeling notices was...."Great! Now they'll be jacking up the prices. Everytime I've been in a WalMart AFTER they fancy it up(I think WalMart has a serious case of TARGET Envy!), the prices are higher than before the remodel. I'm sure the faux wood floors are WalMart's justification for charging more for their indonesian child labor sweatshop clothing that falls apart the 1st time you wash it.

There was also a HUGE HOLE right in the middle of the food section of the store, near the back where the open refridgerated cases for meats and the soda/paper products aisles use to be. Next to the hole was a Huge Backhoe looking machine surrounded by some boards they had put up to keep people out of the area. I briefly thought about taking a pic of it but knowing WalMart, I wasn't in the mood to be asked to leave the premises after schlepping up & down all those aisles & before I was checked out at the register.

I asked the Cashier about the backhoe thingy and she said every night at around 9:30 they start drilling and banging and they don't stop until 7 am. This is a 24 hr. WalMart & the cashier works nights. She said she goes home every morning with a headache from the nocturnal cacophony. I asked her what they were digging and she shrugged her shoulders. My guess is they are installing an underground missle silo right in the middle of WalMart....who would suspect, right?
Hey, with the way North Korea is headed, might not be a bad idea.

Either that or they are looking for Jimmy Hoffa again..... ;-)

At any rate, it will be some time before I set foot in WalMart again.
Did I just use the word AGAIN enough for you?
Thought so.....

Next time.....Back to K-Mart for more fun w/Double Coupons!

Sluggy

Cleaning Out the Freezer Challenge

I've been taking part in a "Cleaning Out the Freezer/Pantry" Challenge on the Compact List for the month of June.

I took some pictures on June 1(or thereabouts)of my freezer spaces and my pantry. I'm finally getting around to posting them here. It's a little embarrassing showing them to the world, as things are not nice and neatly placed and stacked. I have more of a 'cram-it-in-until-the-door-closes' method.lolol
I hope to revisit the same photos at the end of June to see if there is a visible, discernible reduction in the sheer VOLUME of Food in these spaces.
Here is the little freezer compartment over the fridge.
Notice the blocks of cheese in the door and the leftover containers of vegetable stock. What you can't see are the cardboard boxes of vegetables lining the back wall of the space. Lots of little boxes with a big green man on it.

Here's the standing Freezer in the garage.
Many packages of bacon, hidden behind a ham or two, packages of chicken parts, hot dogs & corn on the cob & zukes I put up last fall. The drawer in the bottom has a tukey under all those bags of veggies.

And here is the door of the Standing Freezer.
Here's the Kingdom of Butter, some sausage rolls, walnuts, pepper strips put up last fall and more little boxes of Ho-Ho-Ho veggies. The frozen veggies need to be eaten since the fresh stuff in season will be here shortly.

Now for the Pantry in the Kitchen....Top shelves, then Bottom shelves.

Top to bottom.....Condiments, dressings, marinades, sauces. Then the grain, noodles, cracker shelf.

Tomato sauce, meats, soups, peanut butter, fruits on one shelf.
Baking supplies, oils, oatmeals, snacks, dog treats and the **gasp**dreaded paper napkins.

I figure there are two components to this Challenge.

First, to use up what you have, especially items that are dwelling in the deep dark recesses of the back of the freezer or pantry. You know, those forgotten cuts of meat or partial bags of veggies that aren't large enough to make a meal out of for everyone you need to feed, or the getting ready to head to 'freezer burn heaven' baggy of bell pepper strips you froze last fall, or the unidentifiable-until -you-thaw-it, 'whatever-it-is'. And how about that tortilla soup that sounded so yummy in the store but makes your lower jaw retract now, or the strange hoity-toity English lemon curd you got in that gift basket from Aunt Tooty last Holiday Season you can't seem to try. Let's repurpose those unloved canned goods or rice mixes into some fine fare for the family. It's time to dig all those unrecognizable chilled foods out and disguise them or turn them into culinary masterpieces for all at your table to enjoy.

Secondly, while you are using up what is already in your arsenal, you need to refrain from adding more foodstuff OR avoiding the Challenge altogether by dining out instead.


The 1st Week of June I did very well using goodies from the freezer & pantry. I also did well by only spending $1.79 on additional groceries for the entire week!

Then life happened. Meaning, then #1 son graduated and the relatives showed up. I was forced to spend money on Cook-Out ingredients. Then there was some dining out too. I still was able to use up some food from freezer & pantry that week despite the money I spent on new foods brought into the house.

Week 3 of June and I'm back on track with the Eating from the Freezer/Pantry Challenge. Only 3 people this week to feed but we are using up some items that have just hung around here too long. Tomorrow I'll be getting rid of a huge bag of PIZZA ROLLS. See them?....up there in the 2nd pic, standing upside down on the 2nd shelf in the big freezer.
Daughter insisted I buy these back in Feb.....it's a Huge Bag! I think she ate 4 pieces. UGH
#2 son's friends will be here for lunch and will make them ALL disappear in short order. ;-)
If they like them I have a 2nd bag they can take home with them.

So how about joining in on our venture to Use Up the Stuff that's Been Hanging Around Too Long!
Post some pics and send us the link.

Sluggy